will changing the hitch position help at the ramp?

rasbury

I have been doing really well at getting our 270 out of the ramps...until yesterday. I have an F150 that has the power to do it fine and have been doing well for almost 3 years or so. Yesterday, when we pulled out I was losing traction and wheels a spinning. Thankfully, some folks at the ramp jumped into the back of the truck and I will able to pull it on out...so, I have a hitch that I can adjust up and down. My first thought was if I lowered the ball in relation to where I normally tow, it should put more tongue weight on the truck...but then after some thought, the angle that the boat and trailer are at it would probably make it worse? So then if I raised the ball higher than I would normally tow, would that put more tongue weight on the truck? I figure the additional weight added by the folks that jumped in was probably 600 lbs....I probably need to move the boat forward a little as I have moved back the wench a couple of times so the boat is not as forward as it used to be....also, the ramp was busy and really wet which sure did not help. I was just puzzled to have a problem now.

Liberty44140

There is a percentage out there of how much tongue weight you should have. I had a 23' center console on a dual axel trailer and the tongue weight was so light that I could lift the tongue. I had to move the boat forward on the trailer to get 400 lb of tongue weight so that the trailer would stop fish tailing on the highway. In your case I dont think the ball height will help, but moving the boat forward on the trailer will give you more tongue weight. Is your F150 4WD? I'm guessing no but if it was you could just use 4WD at the ramp. 

Cableguy Greg

Time for a new truck Ras... I see a 4x4 in the not too distant future.

J3ff

I can't believe you trailer a 270 fl guys just be more manly

Handymans342

J3ff said:

I can't believe you trailer a 270 fl guys just be more manly

You got that one right!

rasbury

Well, most of us are...JK @Handymans342  I think I have the boat weight a little back as the suspension looks a little out of kilter so I will move it forward a tad. Odd thing is my trailer flexes some at the ramp so when I wench it down to meet the roller on the front, it actually will flex the trailer and then when you pull it out of the water, it is not touching the roller. So, I have moved the roller/wench back to meet the boat and I can see by the marks on the trailer, about 3". Still, up until yesterday, have not had an issue. I did put on some wider 18" wheels and all terrain tires after I first picked it up so not sure that a new truck is the issue. 4x4 might help some but at that angle and not much weight on the front wheels, not sure how much that would even help. Ramp was just real wet and slick. I will buy a strap and keep in the truck so at least if I get there again and someone offers to pull us both out but does not have a strap, I will have one!

Cableguy Greg

Since most of us Northern boaters have 4x4's we have ramp experience with them. All I have to do is put my truck in 4 low and it will crawl out of the water with hardly giving it any gas at all. Even with a steep ramp, having a 4x4 is great.

rinker270nb

Are your wheels spinning from lack of traction, wet ramp?  Different / new tires, 4x4, or preferred ramps are the easy fixes. Sounds like a new variable was introduced as you had success in the past. 

jhofmann

Check out a product called " SHURTRAX ". It is basically a rubber bladder that you place in the bed, and fill with water to add weight over the axle. It can be drained when not needed.

rasbury

@jhofmann I had a threw on that subject when I first got our boat and that was an idea I had! I could find no such thing on the market at that time....hmmmm....i have been using the same ramp all along. Only difference is the water is way down. Ramp was very wet but not more than normal. Usually, comes up easy, have the 3 valve 5.4 which has great low torque and about 1800 rpm steady and it comes right out.so, I guess the lower water, probably 20' of ramp more than higher water times might be the variable. I will look at that bladder product, get a pull strap and get the boat further up on the trailer and see where I am at. Sure was a bad ending to a grew outing. Thanks

Lake_Bum

If the water is down at the ramp, most likely your tires are spinning on whatever algae or slime has grown on the surface that is normally below the water level.  I've seen many many trucks ruin tires from spinning them, with a heavy boat on the hook! 

Black_Diamond

The trailer should not be flexing much at all. . Did you replace that bent spring?

jhofmann

I know I had to move my boat forward on the trailer several inches to get the correct tongue weight for my FV242. You might keeping some sand or kitty litter in the truck to throw under the tires in an emergency. Good idea on the tow strap, I always have one in my truck even with 4X4, cause you never know!

212rowboat

a few years ago i was walking the dog around the block in the little hours, and there was a dude stuck like chuck on the concrete ramp, and in a brand new f450 dually 4x4... it was low tide, winter (he'd was either launching or scooping and either flounder gigging or duck hunting by looks of his boat)... the algae is that bad at low tide... he was spinning all axles and losing ground, not gaining.  they tied it off and i retrieved my truck and pulled him (and his boat) out... all he needed was about five feet to dry 'crete, and there ya had it.  

i don't care what someone is driving unless they're big ol mudders with sharp blocks biting or studded tires, you're gonna spin in those conditions.  this particular guy is very lucky he wasn't launching like most here do- open the winch and roll into the ramp- stomping the brake to jolt the boat off the trailer.... if he'd tried that (or maybe, again, he was scooping i can't recall) his brand new f450 king ranch 4x4 truck would have been a f450 king ranch 4x4 submarine.  it's a somewhat steep ramp.  

seriously, man- carry some sand with you. take a scoop and drop them in front of your drive tires.  that's usually all the traction you need.  don't use kitty litter.  it's a mess when saturated and does the opposite for anyone that uses the ramp after you.  

rasbury

Yep, all good advice for sure.....

bigal6030

That's why I tow with a f350 dully 

rasbury

That just don't matter to a point. I've seen duallys spinning at the ramp too. A dually is great for fifth wheel towing or weight in the truck itself. The new f150 eco boost will pull almost 11000 lbs. The new f350 trucks can be rated to over 30000 towing. I would like duallys for additional traction, I just would not want to drive one daily - city driving is my turf. I think one I pull the boat back up on the trailer where i had it I will be fine. Now if I hit the lottery, well guess I would have a boat I could no trailer anyway. Thanks @bigal6030 for the input!

laureniac1

I agree with Ras my F150 eco boost pulls my 2005 270 like a champ! Zero issues 

Lake_Bum

Regardless of the truck pulling the boat, proper trailer position is still pretty important. It's harder on your boat AND trailer if it's loaded improperly. 

That being said.......I doubt I will ever tow with a gas engine again. I've had Diesels for so long now, I would hate myself just "settling" for a truck that could get by. There is no comparison 

Cableguy Greg

I have the F-150 4x4 with the 3.5L EcoBoost and it will pull my 280EC. The only negative is the rear springs aren't like what I had on my F-250. I notice some sagging when I have the boat and trailer hooked up. I am thinking about adding air bags to help with the sag.

rasbury

@Lake_Bum I hear what your saying- if you have a 250 turbo diesel then there is no comparison for that low end torque- but you also have 9 grand tied up in a motor and what a $400.00 oil change? If you can handle that then yep, would be right there with you. I have sold Ford product for 21 years and was a fleet buyer for 8 years before that. And @Cableguy Greg you may have a tongue weight issue - I'm trying to figure mine out as well. My springs do not bottom out and my truck is level but I have move the boat back and will start moving it back forward. I have an older 06, 3.5L 5.4 with a 3:73. That 3 valve motor is also a great low end torque motor but wish I had the 4:10- would be better on the motor with the weight. I do not tow very long distance very often however. Those new eco boost motors are beasts, especially the one they are putting in the Raptor this year.... 

Glassguy54

My tow vehicle is a 2010 Silverado 2500 HD LTZ, 4x4, 6 ltr gas, 4:10 axles. I couldn't justify the extra cost for a diesel. Didn't want the extra maintenance and associated cost of that either. Those dollars can go into the boat.

rasbury

That's where I'm at @Glassguy54 you either really have to want that or drive enough miles per year to justify the cost- I know the Ford's are back to some decent MPG but if you do not take care of them, they will eat you up. The gas motors are a little more forgiving.....

Lake_Bum

@rasbury  I have a 2000 F250 with the 7.3. Oil changes are $90 bucks, and that is synthetic (done myself). My truck has 215k miles, and I will keep it forever.  Your $9k reference on motor would be for a new truck I assume.  I have owned many gassers, and they will never ever tow as good as a Diesel will.  Yes, they get the job done, but there is no comparison 

rasbury

that's a good idea @212rowboat, and I plan around the tides for retrieving when I do salt water. Keep it simple I suppose! I just had not had any problems since I first got the boat and it was a little spooky. I will get a **** rope and keep in the truck as well. 

jhofmann

212rowboat you are right, I was thinking kitty litter helps for winter traction, but it would make a mess at the ramp once is was wet.